The Visitor to Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has commended the institution for its significant contributions to intellectual and human capital development in the state and beyond, pledging to look into its funding challenges.
The governor gave the assurance at the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the university, held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, during which 5,799 students were awarded degrees.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, the Visitor congratulated the graduands and urged them to strive for excellence while remaining worthy ambassadors of the university and Ondo State. He also praised the university management for successfully steering the institution through challenging times, assuring them of government support in addressing funding constraints.
In his address, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to sustaining and elevating the university’s status within the global community of universities. He noted that AAUA possesses the capacity to emerge as Nigeria’s leading centre of knowledge and research, and compete favourably on the global stage, if adequately funded. To this end, he advocated an annual subvention of ₦12 billion.
Dr. Abayomi said the quest to build a globally competitive institution underscored the council’s dedication to creating a high-value university, adding that the governing council had continued to provide quality oversight in close collaboration with the Senate to drive innovation, growth and holistic development.
Delivering his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, said the university had recorded remarkable progress and consolidated its position as a leading centre of teaching and research under his five-year administration.
He disclosed that 32 graduates earned First Class Honours out of the 5,799 graduands, comprising 5,251 undergraduates, 526 postgraduates and 22 diploma students. Prof. Ige announced that the First Class graduates would be offered automatic employment after completing their National Youth Service.
Urging the graduands to uphold the values instilled in them by the institution, the Vice-Chancellor described convocation as a reminder that learning is a lifelong journey requiring discipline, perseverance and vision. He charged them to be ambassadors of AAUA’s core ideals of integrity, diligence and service.
Prof. Ige noted that the university had made significant strides in research, academic expansion, staff and student welfare, sports development and global partnerships. He said that since assuming office on July 7, 2021, his administration had pursued a clear vision of repositioning the university as a hub of excellence in teaching, research and community service.
On academic development, he stated that AAUA expanded its faculties from seven to ten with the creation of the Faculties of Administration and Management Sciences, Allied Health Sciences and Computing, as well as new departments including French, Food Science, and Library and Information Science. He added that all academic programmes had secured full accreditation.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the listing of nine AAUA scholars in the 2024 Elsevier–Stanford Global Ranking, describing it as a testament to the university’s growing research influence.
He further disclosed that the number of inaugural lectures had increased significantly, rising from the 15th edition in 2021 to the 51st, with more in view before the end of his tenure.
Despite financial challenges, Prof. Ige said the university had recorded notable infrastructural upgrades, including the completion of new Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Sciences buildings, renovation of lecture halls and hostels, and the upgrading of the AAUA Business School in Akure.
He reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining the momentum in infrastructure, student welfare, scholarships, work-study programmes and sports development, noting the university’s impressive performances at national competitions, including the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA).
As his tenure draws to a close in the second half of 2026, Prof. Ige expressed gratitude to the Visitor, staff, students and unions for their support, saying the collective efforts of stakeholders had enabled the university to overcome challenges and uphold the vision of its founding fathers.
The Overall Best Graduating Student, Folake Racheal Omonitan of the Department of Biochemistry, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.79, attributed her success to focus and determination, urging her fellow graduates to approach the future with confidence and the belief that nothing is impossible.
